Hermit crab ideas.

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Younglin

Feeder Fish
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Sep 17, 2010
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Let me start off by saying that I am referring to Caribbean hermit crabs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_hermit_crab

Not sure if there are any users here who keep hermit crabs, but I'm going to share my idea regardless and see what responses I get.

I have 4 hermit crabs that I just got and I have an idea for the tank setup that I want advice on. I want to have a sand substrate ( deep enough so they can bury themselves) and a bonsai tree in the middle of the tank. Here are my questions; Do you think the hermit crabs would eat or damage the little tree? Should I put soil under the sand and plant it right in the tank, or have it in a pot that I will cover with rocks and sand?

Any tips/ advice/ info on hermit crabs would be appreciated.
 
Bump. No one keeps these little critters?
 
Hermit crabs are scavengers and will eat many different things including fish left over food and plants. The key to keeping your crabs from destroying your plants or tree is to make sure it has and abundance and verity of foods including fresh fruits and veggies. Personally I would bury the tree in its pot in the sand/soil. This way I could more closely manage any watering or feeding of the tree and if at some point I want to change the tree out for another it would be quick and easy to do so.
 
Wrong forum, pretty sure there is an invertebrate forum where you would probably get more responses.
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They live on land. The invertebrate section is for fresh water invertebrates. These fall under the "other exotic pets".

Personally I would bury the tree in its pot in the sand/soil. This way I could more closely manage any watering or feeding of the tree and if at some point I want to change the tree out for another it would be quick and easy to do so.
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That is what I'm thinking. I change my tanks around a lot so it would be a good idea. Also if they start eating the tree I can remove it. Thanks for the input.
 
Hello, I keep hermit crabs as well, I have 2 strawberries, 2 blueberries, one indo and a purple pincher. if you want to put plants in their crabitat I would put it in a planter so you can easily do maintenance and remove it if necessary. And definitely give them a variety of food, not just what you see in the petstore, check out Hermitcrabaddiction.com for info on foods these crabbies will like, I have ordered fom them and my crabs love the food!
 
In my opinion, live plants should not be used with hermit crabs. Like you said, they will eat them. They will also climb on them and uproot them with their digging habits. A better idea would be to add cholla wood and/or driftwood.

I see you mentioned wanting to use sand as a substrate. What kind of sand do you plan on using? You might want to consider mixing it with coconut fiber(if you buy a block, expand it using salt water)
 
evilxyardxgnome;4958436; said:
A crab is a crab, mudskippers spend most of their time out of water does that mean they belong in this section?
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LAND hermit crabs sold as pets do not live in water, so they aren't aquatic inverts, thus qualifying them as "Other Exotic Pets."
 
evilxyardxgnome;4958436; said:
A crab is a crab, mudskippers spend most of their time out of water does that mean they belong in this section?
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i guess you recommend lumping land hermits in with saltwater ones and posting under general salt?

this clearly is best put in this forum
 
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